Our School Governors

The role of the Governing Board is to safeguard the public interest in the school and to ensure that those who are directly responsible for day to day management (the headteacher and Senior Leaders) are accountable for decisions and actions taken. The Governors play an important role in overseeing the maintainence and improvement of standards of acheivement in the school. It is a strategic role and does not get involved in the day to day running of the school which is the role of the headteacher and staff team.

Our governors

Claire Harrison

Claire Harrison
Parent Governor

Claire Harrison has been working in education since 2005. She worked in Croydon for 6 years and now works in Sutton. She has worked across different key stages and has a lot of experience with leadership and management. Claire has lead on a range of initiatives across her school and other schools in the borough for example Assessment for Learning and Mastery Maths. During her career Claire has had experience with recruitment, safeguarding, allocation of budgets and the Pupil Premium Grant, curriculum coverage, assessment, monitoring the quality of teaching and learning and contributing to the school development plan.

Crispin Williams

Crispin Williams
Foundation Governor

Crispin Williams has recently retired from running a successful small business with a turnover of approximately £1.5 million. He has experience of all aspects of business management, including recruitment, purchasing, marketing, business planning, etc., etc. In the course of this, he has dealt with other businesses in a wide variety of fields, as well as government departments and agencies. He has particular skills in writing and publishing, and in business acquisition. Crispin’s outside interests have included being Chairman, trustee and director of a sports club (hockey and cricket) and he currently sits on a Scouts executive committee.

James Collins

James Collins
Chair of Governors

I am Chair of Governors and have been a Governor at The Crescent before the school actually opened. Initially I volunteered as I attended Selhurst High School For Boys (many years ago) and wanted to see the building brought back to life - I am pleased to say it looks as impressive now as when refurbished 7 years ago and makes a fine environment for a Primary School. I have lived in Croydon for 45 years and have a 15 year old daughter who has just sat the new style GCSE’s and extensive Governor experience both at other Croydon Schools (Primary & Secondary) and for 6 years sat on Croydon Councils Education Scrutiny Committee. I passionately believe all children should get the chance of the best possible education.

Keryn Masters

Keryn Masters
Staff Governor

I have been teaching since 2007, working in Surrey and Croydon; this is my third year at The Crescent. I was staff governor at my previous school for five years and in that time I worked on the finance and curriculum committees and formed part of the data working group, designed to effectively analyse data across all key stages. I started my career in EYFS but, after being moved to Year 6, I have remained in Upper Key Stage 2. I have taught in Year 5 and 6 for the last ten years and at The Crescent I have been a Year Group Leader in both years. I currently lead Year 5 and work as part of the English team.

Lesley Wilson

Lesley Wilson
Foundation Governor

I have lived in Croydon for over 25 years. I have worked in the NHS all my working life. As a Speech and Language Therapist, as a professional lead for all therapies, such as Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, and as general manager. I retired two years ago and continue to work part time for the NHS. As a Speech and Language Therapist, providing communication assessments in a diagnostic clinic for people thought to be affected by Fatal Alcohol syndrome and as a Safety Manager. My role as a Safety Manager is to Investigate serious incidents to ensure the NHS shares good practice and learns from mistakes.

Michael Parker

Michael Parker
Foundation Governor

Michael Parker – I am a recently appointed governor at The Crescent with a keen interest in supporting children to be the best they can be. I grew up in Waddon and attended both primary and secondary schools in Croydon. I am now a senior manager within Lloyds Banking Group with expertise in Human Resources, Finance & Budgeting and Stakeholder management. I have a daughter that is currently in primary school in Croydon who has just completed her key stage 1 SATs. Outside interests include playing competitive rugby union and behavioural science.

Simon Colam

Simon Colam
Parent Governor

Simon Colam is currently Head of Education at the British and Irish Institute of Modern Music London based in Fulham with oversight of further and higher education provision, including 1,400 full-time students and an academic staff of 100. His professional background is in music performance and creative arts education. Prior to his current role Simon held a portfolio career as a self-employed musician, head of department and teacher at The Purcell School for Young Musicians, a residential music school for pupils aged 8-18, and a tutor at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department. Simon lives in South Norwood and his two sons attend The Crescent Primary School.

Dates of meetings for academic year 2019 - 2020:

16th September 2019
16th October 2019
13th November 2019
14th January 2020
28th April 2020
8th July 2020

Contact details for the Governors:

governors@thecrescent.croydon.sch.uk

So you want to become a Governor?

Interested in becoming a School Governor? Please click on the booklet link below which gives more information about the role and time commitment required.